Mr. John M. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the ownership and value of the local authorities' 49 per cent. shareholding in Birmingham airport; and if he will encourage the local authorities concerned to reduce their stake. [9603]
§ Dr. StrangNo. This Government do not have a doctrinaire approach to the ownership of airports, and we see no reason to interfere with the arrangements which were entered into by the west midlands local authorities in March.